US5224637A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Waist-mounted infant carrier
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1991-08-30
•
Granted: 1993-07-06
•
Expires: 2011-08-30
Abstract
Abstract An infant carrier adapted to be worn about the waist of an adult for supporting and transporting an infant on the hip region of the wearer. According to a preferred embodiment, such carrier comprises a fabric belt and an integral fabric seat portion which is adapted to receive and support an infant who is positioned to face the adult wearer with legs straddling the wearer's waist. The integral seat portion is defined by a section of the belt, a loop of fabric extending away from and back to the belt section at spaced locations, and a pair of spaced gussets, positioned one above the other and connecting the belt section and the loop portion. A compressible member, such as polyurethane, foam rubber, or a bladder of air, is disposed in the volume defined by the aforementioned seat-defining members. By virtue of the integral belt/seat design, the weight of the infant is more broadly distributed about the wearer's waist and hip region, and the product is considerably easier manufacture compared to prior art infant carriers of the same type.
Inventors
- 👤 Margaret A. Colombo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 04:34
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47D; A47D13/00; A47D13/02; A47D13/025; A47D13/029
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
167 words
An infant carrier adapted to be worn about the waist of an adult for supporting and transporting an infant on the hip region of the wearer, said infant carrier comprising a belt adapted to be worn about the waist line of an intended wearer, said belt having an integral seat portion which is adapted to receive and support the buttocks of an infant who is positioned to face the adult wearer with legs straddling the wearer's waist, said integral seat portion being defined by a section of the belt, a loop of material extending outwardly from such belt section at a first location, and back to said belt section at a second location spaced from the first location, and upper and lower spaced crescent-shaped gussets connecting the belt section and the loop, whereby said section of the belt, said loop of material and said crescent-shaped gussets define an enclosed volume, said integral seat portion further comprising a pre-shaped compressible member disposed within and substantially filling said volume.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
167 words
An infant carrier adapted to be worn about the waist of an adult for supporting and transporting an infant on the hip region of the wearer, said infant carrier comprising a belt adapted to be worn about the waist line of an intended wearer, said belt having an integral seat portion which is adapted to receive and support the buttocks of an infant who is positioned to face the adult wearer with legs straddling the wearer's waist, said integral seat portion being defined by a section of the belt, a loop of material extending outwardly from such belt section at a first location, and back to said belt section at a second location spaced from the first location, and upper and lower spaced crescent-shaped gussets connecting the belt section and the loop, whereby said section of the belt, said loop of material and said crescent-shaped gussets define an enclosed volume, said integral seat portion further comprising a pre-shaped compressible member disposed within and substantially filling said volume.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The infant carrier as defined by claim 1 wherein said pre-shaped compressible member has a crescent-shaped cross-section and comprises polyurethane or foam rubber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The infant carrier as defined by claim 2 wherein either said loop of material, said belt section or one of said gussets defines an opening communicating with said volume, whereby said shaped compressible member can be inserted into or removed from said volume.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
The infant carrier as defined by claim 1 wherein said belt comprises a pair of straps extending from said integral seat portion, said straps being adapted to be wrapped about the waist of the wearer and collectively supporting a hook and loop clasp which secures said straps together about the waist of the wearer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The infant carrier as defined by claim 4 further comprising a a mechanical clasp for securing said straps about a wearer's waist.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The infant carrier as defined by claim 1 wherein said belt is made from a laminate structure comprising two layers of synthetic fabric materials having a layer of polyurethane sandwiched therebetween.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The infant carrier as defined by claim 6 wherein a side of the belt section facing and positioned adjacent the waist of the wearer is lined with a fabric comprising a natural material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
The infant carrier as defined by claim 1 wherein said upper gusset is larger in area than said lower gusset, whereby said seat-defining members define a tapered volume, and wherein said pre-shaped member is shaped to substantially fill said volume.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
57 words
The infant carrier as defined by claim 1 wherein said upper gusset defines an upper surface for supporting an infant, and wherein said upper gusset is angularly disposed with respect to a horizontal plane, whereby the upper surface of said seat portion is inclined so as to urge a supported infant toward the waist of the wearer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
142 words
An infant carrier adapted to be worn about the waist of an adult for supporting and transporting an infant on the hip region of the wearer, said infant carrier comprising a belt adapted to be worn about the waist line of an intended wearer, said belt having an integral seat portion which is adapted to receive and support the buttocks of an infant who is positioned to face the adult wearer with legs straddling the wearer's waist, said integral seat portion being defined by a section of the belt, a loop of material extending outwardly from and back to said belt section, and a pair of spaced crescent-shaped gussets connecting the belt section and the loop portion, whereby said section of the belt, said loop of material and gussets said pair of define an enclosed volume for receiving a pre-shaped compressible material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
142 words
An infant carrier adapted to be worn about the waist of an adult for supporting and transporting an infant on the hip region of the wearer, said infant carrier comprising a belt adapted to be worn about the waist line of an intended wearer, said belt having an integral seat portion which is adapted to receive and support the buttocks of an infant who is positioned to face the adult wearer with legs straddling the wearer's waist, said integral seat portion being defined by a section of the belt, a loop of material extending outwardly from and back to said belt section, and a pair of spaced crescent-shaped gussets connecting the belt section and the loop portion, whereby said section of the belt, said loop of material and gussets said pair of define an enclosed volume for receiving a pre-shaped compressible material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The infant carrier as defined by claim 10 wherein said compressible material comprises polyurethame, foam rubber, or a bladder of air.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
The infant carrier as defined by claim 10 wherein either said loop of material, said belt section or one of said gussets defines an opening communicating with said volume, whereby said compressible material can be inserted into or removed from said volume.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The infant carrier as defined by claim 10 wherein said belt and seat-defining members are made of a synthetic fabric.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
The infant carrier as defined by claim 10 wherein a side of the belt section facing and positioned adjacent the waist of the wearer is lined with a fabric comprising a natural material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The infant carrier as defined by claim 10 said seat defining members define a tapered volume.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
67 words
The infant carrier as defined by claim 10 wherein the upper gusset defines an upper surface for supporting an infant, and wherein said upper gusset is angularly disposed with respect to a horizontal plane when said pre-shaped compressible material is disposed within said volume, whereby the upper surface of said seat portion is inclined so as to urge a supported infant toward the waist of the wearer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
56 words
The infant carrier as defined by claim 10 wherein said belt comprises a pair of straps extending from said integral seat portion, said straps being adapted to be wrapped about the waist of the wearer and collectively supporting a hook and loop clasp which functions to secure said straps together about the waist of the wearer.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The infant carrier as defined by claim 17 further comprising a a mechanical clasp for securing said straps about a wearer's waist.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US484065A
Cited
US576292A
Cited
US781033A
Cited
US1464404A
Cited
US2411721A
Cited
US2409331A
Cited
US3197100A
Cited
US4029243A
Cited
US4440525A
Cited
US4790459A
Cited
US4901898A
Cited
US4915277A
Cited
US5011056A
Cited
US5016791A
Cited
US5060835A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-07-05 | 1997-01-04 | 1997-07-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-07-05 | 2001-01-04 | 2001-07-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-07-05 | 2005-01-04 | 2005-07-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |